Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded, need-based financial aid program that allows students with financial need to earn FWS funds through employment with authorized FWS employers. Federal work-study is considered employment and the income earned is taxable.
To be considered for FWS, undergraduate and graduate students must be matriculated in a degree-granting program, enrolled at least half time (minimum of 6 credits for undergraduate students; 5 credits for graduate students) and maintain satisfactory academic progress as outlined for financial aid.
Students should first check with the federal work-study coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid to determine eligibility to participate in the program. Once eligibility has been determined, students can pursue either on-campus or off-campus employment. Once all completed paperwork has been submitted to the federal work-study coordinator, students will receive a confirmation email with a copy of the work-study time sheet and payroll schedule attached. Students should not begin working until this confirmation is received.
For a complete overview of the program, please view FWS Student Handbook (PDF 177kB).
Conditions Of Employment
- Employer obligations:
- The work done by FWS students must not displace regular workers or violate existing employment contracts.
- The employer must be willing to pay a minimum of 25 percent of the wages earned by the FWS student.
- The student’s earnings must not exceed the amount of his or her FWS award.
- The student must be paid for all hours worked. The Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits any employer from accepting voluntary services from any paid employee.
- The work must not involve the construction, operation, maintenance of facilities or programs of sectarian religious instruction or worship, or of partisan political activity.
- Payment of dues, fees, gratuities or gifts must not be a condition of the student’s employment.
- The student must not be paid for receiving instruction for college credit in a classroom, laboratory or other academic setting.
- Student obligations:
- Once a student has agreed upon a position and pay rate with the potential employer, he or she must contact the Office of Financial Aid to receive the necessary paperwork, which must be completed before the student may begin working.
- The student may not work past the published end date of the term unless he or she has registered for the next term, or has requested and been approved to work while not enrolled.
Wage Rate
FWS students who work at an Empire State University location will be paid based upon New York State agency regulations. The rate of pay may be increased at the discretion of the supervisor. Skilled work for which the student is qualified is paid according to an appropriate rate for the type of work being done. Students working under the America Reads program will be paid $18 per hour. Students working at an off-campus agency (non-America Reads) must negotiate the rate of pay with the agency. Federal Work Study students must be paid at least the federal minimum wage and cannot exceed $19.90 per hour.
Once a student is approved for Federal Work Study and all the necessary paperwork is completed, the student will be forwarded timesheets and a payroll schedule. Students should expect to receive their first paycheck up to five weeks after beginning work. If bi-weekly time sheets are submitted promptly, paychecks will be issued every two weeks.
Hours Of Employment
Federal Work Study is a part-time work program. Students generally average 10 to 20 hours per week. The maximum amount of hours allowed to be worked within one week is 25. Any excess over 25 hours per week requires specific permission from the Office of Financial Aid. Under no circumstances can students be paid for more than 40 hours per week. Students cannot work for more than six hours without taking at least a half-hour break. Students cannot work more than eight hours per day unless granted permission from the Office of Financial Aid.
